Ruby Shadows Read online

  I thought about it…and rejected the idea. If I was walking about Hell with a ten foot tall, cloven-hoofed, forked-tongued monster, I really didn’t want to know it. Ignorance is bliss and all that…

  “We’re here,” he murmured, breaking my train of thought. “When the guards begin to move, the gates will open. You and I will slip through and be on our way.”

  “All right.” I didn’t much like the idea of “slipping through” a huge gate guarded by enormous, muscular, beast-like demons, but there didn’t seem to be much choice.

  As if on cue, the vast iron gates swung silently open, emitting a gust of hot, dry air that smelled faintly of burning. They were so colossal I thought the mechanism that moved them must be the size of a small city. Or maybe they were opened and closed by some kind of dark magic. Whatever the case, the moment the gates swung wide, the two huge guards lumbered inside, carrying their pitchforks—which looked about the size of telephone poles—casually over their shoulders.

  “It’s time,” Laish murmured to me. Up until then, we had been keeping to the wall and the long shadows it cast. Now he took me firmly by the hand and pulled me right through the middle of the gates.

  “Uh, shouldn’t we keep to the side?” I asked, out of the corner of my mouth.

  “More chance of running into one of the guards,” he said. “Go ahead of me, Gwendolyn—once you are past the threshold, they cannot turn you away and danger is more likely to come from behind.”

  “Fine,” I muttered. I felt incredibly vulnerable stepping out ahead of him but I did it anyway. The space we went through felt as wide as a football field—though it was probably only the size of a tennis court. I kept my head down, looking at my feet. Ho-hum, nothing to see here. Just a subservient concubine just out for a stroll with her demonic master…

  And that was when I heard the growling.

  Abandoning my subservient routine, I looked up…and up…and up, into the eyes of a huge, bristling dog. At least, I thought it was a dog. Except no kind of dog I ever heard of grows as large as a horse. Also, I’m pretty sure the American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize any breed that has three heads—which this dog had. So when I say I looked into its eyes, I mean I looked into all six of them. And every single one was filled with a murderous desire to rip me apart like a piece of beef jerky.

  I’ve never been a dog person—witches and cats go together like peanut butter and jelly—which is why Grams and I always had at least one feline stalking around the house. But even if I had been a canine enthusiast, I don’t think I could have gotten too enthusiastic about the beast which was blocking my way and growling at me with all three heads. In fact, I was about as far from enthusiastic as I could get—I was terrified.

  “Laish,” I whispered, my voice suddenly dry. “What’s going on? I thought you said there was more danger from behind?”

  “What’s going on is that some fool has gone and left Cerberus off his leash again.” He sounded more irritated than anything else. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him hurt you,” he added.

  “Um, thanks…” I still couldn’t raise my voice above a whisper and I didn’t dare take my eyes off the huge beast. All three heads were still growling and snarling and two of them were drooling on the ground. I couldn’t help noticing that where the ropey strings of saliva touched the broad black paving stones, little wisps of steam arose. Either the dog-thing’s spit was supernaturally hot or some kind of acid. Neither option seemed very comforting.

  Suddenly the dog lunged at me, all three heads barking in a deafening cacophony.

  “Oh, God!” I jumped back instinctively, my heart pounding, though I knew there was no way I could outrun the huge thing.

  “No!” Laish was suddenly between us. “No, Cerberus!” he repeated, slapping aside one of the snarling, barking heads as casually as anyone else might swat a fly. Then he added a word in that harsh language that hurt my ears.

  At once the three headed dog flopped down on the ground and began to whimper as though it was in pain. It looked up at Laish with big, sad puppy dog eyes which might have melted my heart if there hadn’t been six of them.

  “That’s right,” Laish frowned at the creature. “You must never threaten her again. Gwendolyn is mine and I will not see her harmed.”

  The dog seemed to understand this. It rolled over on its back as though begging to have its massive tummy scratched. I was almost tempted to do it—the change in the big dog was from night to day. He looked so sad and contrite and really, almost loveable, I could scarcely believe he would hurt me now.

  As I watched him, the huge thing whined again and made a little movement toward me with one of its massive, dinner-plate sized paws. Come play with me, I could almost hear it saying. Sorry I scared you—just doing my job and guarding the gates.

  “Hey, boy,” I murmured. “Are you really just a big softie?”

  The dog made another appealing little whine at the back of one of its throats, as though agreeing with me. Well, maybe he was just being protective of his territory. As I said before, I’m not much of a dog person but I had dated a guy for a little while who had a Rottweiler/Pitt bull mix. The thing was as ugly and scary as any animal you’d ever want to meet but once it had recognized that I wasn’t a threat, it had been a very sweet companion. In fact, I’d been sorrier to leave the dog than the guy, when we finally broke up.

  “I think somebody wants his tummy scratched,” I said.

  The dog barked playfully and almost seemed to be grinning at me, its long pink tongues hanging out of all three mouths as it panted eagerly.

  I was stepping forward with one hand raised when Laish took me by the wrist and pulled me back.

  “I wouldn’t,” he said blandly. “Cerberus is not to be trusted.”

  “He’s just protecting his territory,” I protested. “Now that you calmed him down it should be fine.”

  “He would like you to think so—until you got within biting distance.” Laish gestured at the massive dog. “Then he would take your head from your shoulders. He has been trained to smell human flesh—that’s all he eats.”

  “Seriously?” I suddenly felt sick.

  “Oh, yes. He is actually most helpful—he keeps souls from escaping from Hell and for the most part, he keeps humans out. By any means possible. But even if he didn’t bite your head from your body, there are other things to consider.”

  “What other things? Besides his three heads and his taste for human flesh?” I demanded.

  “His tail.” Laish nodded at the back end of the huge animal. “Watch his tail, Gwendolyn. It will show you his true intentions.”

  As he spoke, I saw a large black cobra rise up. It hovered, hissing over the shaggy belly I had just been going to scratch and I realized it was connected to Cerberus. It was actually part of him.

  “Ugh.” I took another step back. “Hell is worse than I imagined, so far.”

  “This, mon ange, is but the tip of the iceberg. There is much more to come,” Laish said grimly. “But for now, let us—”

  Before he could finish a massive demon with dark maroon skin and twisted horns rode up on a snorting black horse even bigger than Cerberus.

  “Who dares to pass through the Great Barrier unannounced?” he thundered. He was huge—easily two feet taller than the massive demons we’d seen guarding the gates earlier. “Cerberus!” he growled, swinging off the horse and stalking over to where the three headed dog was still sprawled in front of Laish. “Is this female a mortal being with an intact soul? Why did you allow her to pass through the gate? Why have you not ripped her limb from limb and consumed her?”

  The dog whined again and barked sharply at the massive demon. I bit my lip and crossed my arms over my chest protectively. Great, we’d been busted trying to sneak into Hell. What was going to happen now? Laish was just a minor demon. Would he get in trouble? Would he—?

  “Cerberus did not attack the female because she is mine and I forbid him to harm her,” Laish said, ste
pping forward.

  The demon, who towered over both of us, squinted down at him.

  “Do I know you? Who are you that the hound of Hell obeys your orders?”

  “You know me, Yerx.” Suddenly, Laish seemed to grow bigger and more menacing, just as he had at Grams’ house. “You know me very well,” he rumbled, his voice deepening to a threatening thunder.

  I looked at him in awe—was this the other form he had talked about—his true demonic form? But his face hadn’t changed any—in fact, he didn’t seem that different except for his size. Maybe this was a partial transformation? What would happen if he changed completely? What would he look like? And did I really want to know?

  Apparently the partial change was good enough for the huge demon.

  “My Lord Laish!” It threw its massive frame on the black paving stones at our feet. It was so big I swore I could feel the ground shake when it hit the earth. “F-forgive me,” it stammered, pressing its huge, ugly face to Laish’s shoe. “I did not recognize you in your mortal form. I meant no disrespect—please don’t have me skinned alive or banish me to the lake of fire! Not all of us can survive it as you did!”

  Laish stepped back and seemed to shrink down to his normal size again.

  “That is quite all right, Yerx,” he said mildly. “An understandable mistake. I will not punish you—this time.”

  “Oh, thank you, Master! Thank you!” The demon babbled, still groveling at his feet.

  “That’s quite enough, Yerx.” Laish’s expression was one of distaste. “As I said, I won’t punish you this time—so long as you keep my secret. I am taking my concubine to my home in Hades and I don’t wish anyone to know it. Hence my attempt to bring her through the gates clandestinely.” He frowned. “Unfortunately, some fool let Cerberus off his leash and so my plan was spoiled.”

  “I’ll have whoever did it whipped until they bleed,” the demon promised. “And your secret is safe with me, I swear it, my Lord.”

  “Very well.” Laish sighed. “As long as you are here, Yerx, I might as well make use of you. Or rather, make use of your horse. It’s a long walk to the river and I confess I wasn’t looking forward to it.”

  “Of course. Of course!” The demon hopped up at once and grabbed the snorting black horse’s reins. “Take him as far as you like, my Lord. He will return on his own when you release him.”

  “All right.” Laish stepped forward and took the reins. He turned to me. “Come, Gwendolyn. Let us go.”

  “On that thing?” I shook my head as a familiar fear from childhood rose up. “Uh-uh, I don’t think so.”

  He frowned at me. “You’re fearless, Gwendolyn—some might even say reckless. A moment ago before I stopped you, you were going to pet the hound of Hell. Now you fear to mount a horse?”

  “I don’t love dogs to death but a dog—even a three headed one—is still better than a horse,” I said defensively, taking another step back.

  “Come, mon ange,” Laish said. “Don’t be ridiculous. This steed is perfectly safe—observe.” Nonchalantly, he put his foot in the stirrup and swung aboard the huge black horse which snorted and stamped but did, at least, stay still for the operation. The thing was so big it looked more like he was mounted on an elephant than a horse—or maybe that was just my fear talking.

  “I…I don’t want to.” Still, I hung back. I had bad memories of my last time on horseback—very bad memories that involved a hospital visit, a broken collar bone, and my Grams crying her eyes out with worry. I wanted no part of that again.

  “Gwendolyn…” Laish’s deep voice was soft and patient. “I swear to you I will not allow the horse to hurt or throw you. I will hold you myself the entire time we are astride it. Come…trust me. Remember you said that you would try?”

  I had said that, hadn’t I? But why did he have to test me so soon?

  “Come, Gwendolyn,” he said again. “Every moment you delay is another moment the Hellspawn has to track us.”

  The thought of the headless thing with its long yellow teeth and slimy tongue-tentacle finally got me moving. Trying to stay right in the middle of the huge horse and away from its front and back hooves, I carefully approached.

  “That’s good, mon ange.” Laish leaned down and held out a hand encouragingly. “Take my arm and step up on my foot. I will swing you up in front of me.”

  It was a long reach to get my foot up to his, which was stuck firmly in the black leather stirrup. I felt ridiculous even trying because the red silk dress was riding up and I felt sure that the massive demon behind me was staring at my ass. Finally, though, I managed to get my foot on top of Laish’s and grasp him by the forearm.

  “Up we go,” he said and suited actions to words by heaving me lightly up the side of the huge horse. Before I knew it, I was sitting in front of him in the big black saddle.

  There was nothing else to hold on to so I grabbed a handful of the horse’s mane, hoping it wouldn’t mind. It snorted and stamped its foot but showed no inclination to buck us off, which was good. Still, I didn’t like being so high up and feeling so completely out of control.

  Laish seemed to have no such worries. He kicked the massive horse’s sides and made a clicking sound.

  “Goodbye, Yerx,” he called as the horse began to move obediently forward. “I will send back your steed when I reach the river. Remember that no one is to know about this. If I find you have told anyone, I will have your flesh carved from your bones and tossed, chunk by bloody chunk, into the Lake of Fire.”

  Looking back, I thought the immense demon looked pale.

  “Yes, my Lord Laish,” he muttered, bowing so low that his twisting spiral horns scraped the ground. “I understand.”

  “Very good.” Laish turned his attention forward and urged the horse to go a little faster.

  “Take it easy with this thing!” I gripped his forearms, which were on either side of me. “Don’t make it go too fast, okay?”

  “What is the point of riding a Demon-steed if you don’t make use of its tremendous speed?” Laish sounded amused but I noticed he didn’t urge the horse any faster—for which I was relieved.

  “So, ‘Lord Laish’ huh?” I asked, trying to take my mind off my horsy predicament. “What’s that all about? I thought you were a minor demon?”

  “It’s nothing. Yerx is an old friend—he served in one of the legions I commanded once during the Blood Wars.”

  “Okay, first…” I twisted around carefully, so I could see his face. “Friends don’t threaten to have friends carved into ‘bloody chunks’ was how I believe you put it.”

  Laish opened his mouth but I went on before he could speak.

  “And second, minor demons don’t command whole legions. Do they? I mean, who are you, anyway?”

  Laish shrugged. “No one of consequence. Don’t worry about it, Gwendolyn.”

  “I do worry about it, Laish,” I snapped. “I called for a minor demon. In fact, I specifically tried to summon the weakest, least dominant demon I could find the first time I did that spell. And I got you.”

  “You did indeed. And now you are stuck with me.” He gave me a charming grin. “Turn around, Gwendolyn. This is likely to be the most idyllic portion of our trip. Let’s not waste it bickering.”

  “As if any part of a ride through Hell could be ‘idyllic,’” I muttered, turning around reluctantly. “This isn’t over with, Laish. I’m going to find out who—and what—you really are, eventually.”

  “Perhaps,” he rumbled. “In the meantime, let us just enjoy each other’s company—shall we?”

  I still felt irritated but the slight swaying motion of the horse was strangely soothing. I didn’t know much about horses—having avoided them completely ever since early childhood—but this one seemed to have an exceptionally smooth gait. The dark ground flowed beneath us like water. As for the landscape—there was nothing to see. The entire area seemed to be one flat plane shrouded in mist. From time to time I thought I heard voices but they were a
lways far off and I couldn’t make out what they were saying. It was neither too hot nor too cold—in fact, the whole place was about as neutral and gray as anything I could imagine.

  So much for fiery pits and vats of lava and brimstone with devils dancing around them—as far as I was concerned, Hell seemed positively mild. There was nothing to do but lean back and enjoy the ride—if I could enjoy balancing on the back of such a huge, frightening creature, that was. Still, Laish’s arms on either side of me and his broad, warm chest behind me made me feel secure, despite the great distance to the ground. His warm cinnamon and spice scent was soothing too—maybe too soothing. It was lulling me off guard, making me want to snuggle back against him and lose myself in the warmth of his big body.

  Irritated with myself for my weakness, I made a point of sitting up, trying not to let my back touch his chest. But that put my crotch into much more direct contact with the hard leather saddle. My legs were already spread wide and when I leaned forward, the rocking motion of the horse and the saddle rubbing right between my legs was positively pornographic. I squirmed uncomfortably, wishing it didn’t feel so good.

  I had a real dilemma. If I leaned back, I was too close to Laish but if I sat up straight, I was being stimulated in a way I definitely didn’t want when I was in such close proximity to the infuriating demon.

  “Gwendolyn? Are you all right?” he murmured after a few minutes of me squirming all over the place.

  “Fine, just fine,” I muttered, making an effort to sit still. “Tell me about Hell if you won’t tell me about yourself,” I said, trying to take my mind off my problem. “What is this area we’re riding through now—Purgatory?”

  “There is no such thing,” Laish said. “That is yet another detail Dante got wrong. In fact, this is the first circle of Hell—Avernus. Also known as the Plane of Irresolution. It is reserved for those souls who wandered aimlessly through life, never accomplishing their goals or helping others to accomplish theirs.”

  “That seems mild enough,” I remarked.